Hindi
Blockbuster fined for overcharging customers
MUMBAI
The stipulated judgment that was pronounced on Monday ends a nearly five-year investigation into the way Blockbuster rang up sales in 14 California counties.
The judgment against Blockbuster consists primarily of $237,750 in penalities that will help fund consumer protection programmes in San Diego and Los Angeles counties.
The remaining $62,250 in investigation costs will be divided among 14 counties like San Diego, Los Angeles, Kern, Napa, Sacramento, San Bernardino, Santa Barbara and Stanislaus, Ventura, Riverside, Alameda, Santa Clara, San Mateo and Orange.
The probe found more than 3,800 discrepancies between the final sales price and the prices that had been advertised or posted in the 82 stores where the problems surfaced, said Gina Darvas, a deputy district attorney for San Diego County.
None of the alleged overcharging, however, involved video rentals, Darvas claimed. But inaccurate prices were found on various concessions and movies for sale which led to registering of unfair business practice lawsuit.
“This does not reflect the way we conduct business at our stores,” Blockbuster said in a statement. “We have assured the state that we will continue to take the necessary steps to ensure pricing for the products in our stores is accurate.”
Hindi
Marico founder Harsh Mariwala’s book Harsh Realities set for film adaptation
Almighty Motion Picture taps Karan Vyas to script Marico story
MUMBAI: Almighty Motion Picture is turning its lens on India Inc., with plans to adapt Harsh Realities: The Making of Marico into a screen project. The story charts the rise of Harsh Mariwala, the chairman and founder of Marico, and is currently in early development, according to a report by Variety.
Writer Karan Vyas, known for his work on Scam 1992, Scoop and Made in India – A Titan Story, is attached to pen the screenplay. The project continues the studio’s growing interest in real-life Indian narratives that blend business with human drama.
At the heart of the story lies a defining moment in 1987, when Mariwala chose to step away from the family-run Bombay Oil Industries and strike out on his own. What followed was not just the creation of a company, but the reinvention of a legacy. Marico would go on to become a global FMCG player, with brands like Parachute, Saffola, Set Wet and Livon becoming household names, reaching nearly one in three Indians.
The source material, co-authored by Mariwala and renowned business strategist Ram Charan, offers more than a boardroom chronicle. It captures the grit behind the growth, the risks behind the rewards and the leadership lessons forged along the way.
The adaptation aims to move beyond balance sheets and brand milestones, focusing instead on the person behind the enterprise. Expect a narrative that leans into the emotional stakes of entrepreneurship, where decisions are as personal as they are professional.
Today, Marico draws about a quarter of its revenue from international markets across Asia and Africa, reflecting its steady transformation from a domestic player into a multinational force. Yet, if the makers have their way, the screen version will remind audiences that every global success story begins with a leap of faith.
With development set to begin soon, this is one business story that may just trade spreadsheets for storytelling, and profit margins for moments that linger
